Psalms 127:1

Psalms 127:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
• New International Version (NIV)Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

Context of Psalms 127:1

If the Lord does not build a house, then those who build it work in vain. If the Lord does not guard a city, then the watchman stands guard in vain. 2It is vain for you to rise early, come home late, and work so hard for your food. Yes, he can provide for those whom he loves even when they sleep. 3Yes, sons are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.

Psalms 127:1 word by word

אִם־יְהוָ֤ה׀ לֹא־יִבְנֶ֬ה בַ֗יִת שָׁ֤וְא׀ עָמְל֣וּ בוֹנָ֣יו בּ֑וֹ אִם־יְהוָ֥ה לֹֽא־יִשְׁמָר־עִ֝֗יר שָׁ֤וְא׀ שָׁקַ֬ד שׁוֹמֵֽר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Except the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• buildבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• they labourעָמַל‛âmal · to toilH5998
• in vainשָׁוְאshâv' shav · vanity: vainH7723
• keepשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• wakethשָׁקַדshâqad · to watchH8245

Cross-references for Psalms 127:1

• Psalms 120:1In my distress I cried out to the Lord and he answered me.
• Psalms 121:1I look up toward the hills. From where does my help come?
• Psalms 122:1I was glad because they said to me, “We will go to the Lord’s temple.”
• Psalms 123:1I look up toward you, the one enthroned in heaven.
• Psalms 124:1“If the Lord had not been on our side” – let Israel say this! –
• Psalms 125:1Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion; it cannot be upended and will endure forever.
• Psalms 126:1When the Lord restored the well-being of Zion, we thought we were dreaming.
• Psalms 72:1O God, grant the king the ability to make just decisions! Grant the king’s son the ability to make fair decisions!
• Psalms 33:16No king is delivered by his vast army; a warrior is not saved by his great might.
• Proverbs 16:9A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.
• Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against the Lord.
• Ecclesiastes 9:11Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge – for time and chance may overcome them all.
• 1 Corinthians 3:7So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth.
• 1 Chronicles 22:10He will build a temple to honor me; he will become my son, and I will become his father. I will grant to his dynasty permanent rule over Israel.’
• 1 Chronicles 28:10Realize now that the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it!”
• 1 Chronicles 29:19Make my son Solomon willing to obey your commands, rules, and regulations, and to complete building the palace for which I have made preparations.”

Commentaries on Psalms 127:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Except the Lord build the house - To build a house is taken in three different senses in the sacred writings. To build the temple of the Lord, which was called הבית habbeith, the house, by way of eminence. To build any ordinary house, or place of dwelling. To have a numerous offspring. In this sense it is supposed to be spoken concerning the Egyptian midwives; that because they feared the Lord, therefore he built them houses. See the note on Exodus 1:21…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Except the Lord build the house - Or rather, “a house.” The word “house” may refer either to an ordinary dwelling; to the temple, as a place of worship; or to a family, with reference to its success and prosperity, as the word house is often used now. The statement is universal, and is designed to indicate a universal dependence on God in human undertakings, though it is not improbable that there may have been an allusion, when the psalm was composed, to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The value of the Divine blessing. --Let us always look to God's providence. In all the affairs and business of a family we must depend upon his blessing. 1. For raising a family. If God be not acknowledged, we have no reason to expect his blessing; and the best-laid plans fail, unless he crowns them with success. 2. For the safety of a family or a city. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen, though they neither slumber nor sleep, wake but in vain…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2Unless: These conditional statements emphasize that the Lord is the one who protects the city (compare Psalm 124:1–2). Human effort achieves nothing unless the Lord blesses it (see Psalm 44:3). you rise early and stay up late: This phrase describes people who work constantly and live with pressure and competition. Those whom God loves can rest and sleep in peace (Psalm 3:5; 4:8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-51-2. suggest the view of the theme given.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 127:1

• Blessing
• Prosperity
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Degrees, Song of
• Hallel
• Psalms
• Wake
• Crime; Crimes
• Degree
• Degrees, Songs of
• Dial of Ahaz
• Hallelujah
• Hezekiah (2)

Commentaries on Psalms 127

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings